One of the coolest things about hardcore is its volatility. Bands form, play some gigs, record a few tunes, and then disappear, with former members reemerging in new projects as well as fresh variants of prior bands. When Tigers Fight comes as the latest incestuous incarnation of what this scene has to offer, combining Mike McTernan (Damnation A.D.), Jim Winters (Earth Crisis, Starkweather) Jonathan Dennison (Another Victim, Unholy, The Promise) and current Hatebreed drum tech Andy Miller. Death Songs, their forthcoming second album, boasts epic metallic traits and thrashy flourishes that brazenly blur the lines between hardcore and post-hardcore. The result makes for essential brutal listening.

Though the record isn’t out for another week through Closed Casket, I’m pleased to present this exclusive album stream of Death Songs for your home moshing pleasure. If you dig what you hear, be sure to pre-order the damn thing.

-GS

If you thought Dave Mustaine’s recent crazy missives against women, Africans, gays and Barack Obama were insane, just wait until you read these excerpts from a December 2008 memordandum released exclusively to MetalSucks. The memo was distributed to potential artists submitting new merchandise designs for Megadeth just after President Barack Obama was elected, but before he actually took office. The memo was given to MetalSucks by one such artist who, for obvious reasons, has asked to remain anonymous. But it’s 100% real. It’s also unedited — we’re cutting out the beginning and the end, which deal with unrelated nitty gritty details (e.g., how much new merch Megadeth is looking to manufacture) and some bits which aren’t relevant to this discussion (something about Spider-Man). But we haven’t actually changed a word.

Amongst the topics discussed are:

• How Mustaine “does not want any gratuitous violence at all” on the merchandise, even though he was working on a new shirt design based on a painting featuring “a martyr floating dead in a lake with blood floating out of her body” and was in favor of possibly using the slogan “TIME TO KILL” on Megadeth merch.
• How not only is Mustaine “a staunch republican [sic]. Or at least he is very anti Obama,” but wished to “portray the White House as weak” on Megadeth merch, “because he does not believe in the Obama administration.” One example given is of a sketch Mustaine apparently drew himself, entitled “US and THEM,” which portrayed ”the US on one side with a solider protecting a woman and baby with his gun pointed at another soldier who is hiding behind a woman and a baby.” I’ve never heard the “Obama uses babies as human shields” argument before, but I guess that’s just ’cause a Canadian talk show host never asked him about it.

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Having lived and loved in Boston several years ago, I have a certain affinity to that great American city and its frequently overlooked musical heritage. While cities like Los Angeles and New York get much of the credit for early essential contributions to hardcore, DYS represented New England proudly, alongside other fine seminal groups from the region like SSD and Gang Green. With only two full-length releases to their name–1983′s Brotherhood and the metallic 1984 self-titled follow-up–the band did what many of its peers and followers did: got in and got out. Of course, its members didn’t completely abandon the scene: Dave Smalley went on to front All, Dag Nasty, and Down By Law, while bassist Jonathan Anastas co-founded the legendary Slapshot.

Yet in the 21st century, with so many hardcore groups reuniting, it was only a matter of time before the group got back together. In a recent interview, the band–which now includes Anastas and Smalley along with new recruits like Franz Stahl of Scream–insisted to me that getting back together after more than two decades was an “organic” decision. As Anastas explains:

“We were approached by people who we’ve known for a really long time, including Drew Stone, the singer of Antidote. They were putting together a Boston hardcore documentary and they realized that there was so little video footage of bands back in the day. They didn’t just want to make a movie of talking heads, grown-up talking about ‘back in the day’ with still photos. So they came up with this idea of putting this reunion show together if for no other reason than to provide live footage shot in current HD fashion. For us, it was the idea of supporting them and that DYS had never been filmed properly to participate in that.”

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Ulcerate’s The Destroyers of All was one of the most deliciously heavy and crushingly beautiful releases of all of 2011, landing a spot in four different MS staffers’ Best of 2011 lists plus a whole slew of mentions in the lists published by Ulcerate’s contemporaries in other metal bands. Now we’ll finally have a chance to experience all of Ulcerate’s death metal carnage in person when these New Zealanders descend upon North America for the very first time ever this May for a quick tour sponsored by MetalSucks.

As many foreign metal band are wont to do, Ulcerate have used their Memorial Day Weekend appearance at Maryland Deathfest as an excuse to play a few more shows while they’re here, and we couldn’t be happier. The all-too-brief seven-date tour leading up to MDF features shows in the Eastern U.S. and Canada, with NYC’s own Tombs as support on the first three dates and an as-of-yet unannounced opener on the remaining tour stops.

Dates after the break!

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We’re live! Enter your question into the comment box and it’ll be entered into a queue. Axl and Vince will get to as many questions as possible. Login using your Facebook or Twitter account if you like… or not, up to you.

Motley Crue have been giving clues all week and will be making an announcement on tonight’s (Thursday’s) episode of Piers Morgan Tonight on CNN, with more information to be revealed on tomorrow’s show. Piers Morgan Tonight airs at 9PM Eastern / 6PM Pacific.

MetalSucks can exclusively reveal the fourth clue, above. What could the big announcement be???

Gwar guitarist Cory Smoot (aka Flattus Maximus) is dead. His band members found him deceased this morning as they prepared to cross the Canadian border. MetalSucks just received the following statement by Gwar mastermind Dave Brockie directly from the band’s camp:

It is with a sense of profound loss and tragedy that the members of GWAR must announce the passing of their long time guitarist and beloved friend Cory Smoot,  also known to thousands of metal fans worldwide as Flattus Maximus.  Cory was found deceased this morning as the band prepared for a border crossing.  There is no word as to the cause of death and the members of GWAR are completely shocked and devastated that this has occurred.  At this point there is no word on arrangements and the disposition of the remainder of GWAR’s current North American tour, nor are there any details regarding long term plans.  At this point we are just dealing with the loss of our dear friend and brother, one of the most talented guitar players in metal today.  We ask that our fans and the media be respectful of our request for privacy for those that have suffered this terrible loss.  A full statement will be coming in the next day or so, in the meantime please give your thoughts and your prayers to Cory, his family, and all the people that love him.

-Dave Brockie-

This sucks more than words can possibly express. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Cory’s friends, his family, and of course his bandmates.

- Everyone at MetalSucks

We had a lot of fun last year doing an NHL preview with our friends at Relapse Records – so much fun, in fact, that we wanted to do it again this year!

Unfortunately, we got a little distracted with some other business, and so this year’s edition is a) somewhat less comprehensive than last year’s, and b) not really a preview at all, seeing as the NHL season actually began two weeks ago. Still… we got some fun people weighing in, including members of Misery Index, Fuck the Facts, 16, and Hero Destroyed. Read ‘em all after the jump!

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Since Dutch occult-rockers The Devil’s Blood took over my music life this summer, I’ve been fighting a nagging tug at my heart caused by the fear that, without a US label deal, TD’sB would not land in America for awesome live shows (and interviews and um make-out sessions). But as of this moment, I’m allowed to report that this shadow over my soul has been sunblasted away: Metal Blade Records is bringing The Devil’s Blood to America. Oh, sweet relief!

Behold fancy MetalSucks Exclusive details: Upcoming second album The Thousandfold Epicentre is slated for US release on January 17 and, boner of all bonerz, there’s already an awesome stateside tour in the works. Hoping for a vinyl release — perfect for classic metal acts with killer artwork like TD’sB (below) and labelmates Ghost — I was told that a 12″ edition will follow the CD release but that no date has been set. I was also told that Metal Blade chief Brian Slagel was behind the deal, so he should get ready for a huge fucking cookie bouquet from me. Slagel comments:

Reminiscent of the classic metal and psychedelic rock bands of the 60′s and 70′s, The Devil’s Blood has created a dark and haunting world made up of intriguing music, strong vocals and musicianship, reflective artwork, and a theatrical stage show that is not to be missed.

Pre-order The Thousandfold Epicentre and crank exclusive new track “She” here!

-ADF

Over the long weekend, I seized on the opportunity to snag a copy of Trapped Under Ice’s sophomore effort Big Kiss Goodnight at their New York City release party. The record, stuffed with beefy riffs and instantly memorable hooks, quickly found its way into heavy rotation in my home. But what kind of guy would I be if I didn’t share the love with you all?

Here, then, in all its streaming glory is “Outcast”. One of the darker tracks off the record, the cut has a real classic Madball vibe throughout, both musically and lyrically. I’ll have a lot more to say about this record later this week when my review goes up on the site. But don’t wait until then–check out “Outcast” immediately and be sure to cop Big Kiss Goodnight today on CD or vinyl.

-GS

(photo by Jessica Ann Harvey)

Augusta, ME progressive metal outfit Last Chance to Reason just had their official last chance to reason with guitarist Thomas Waterhouse keyboardist Brian Palmer, ’cause apparently both dudes decided to leave the band during the course of their current tour with Animals as Leaders, Intronaut, Dead Letter Circus and Evan Brewer.

MetalSucks first suspected something was up when reader Asher L. reported to us that the band was down two members at their recent show in Orlando, FL (although he said they played “an amazing show” anyway). So we emailed the band’s management for confirmation, and got this official statement from the remaining four band members themselves:

Hello Everyone,

First off we want to thank everyone who has come out to the shows this summer and making this the best year worth of touring we have ever done. The Animals as Leaders tour has been a truly surreal experience, so again thank you to all who came out to share that with us, we are all beyond stoked to be a part of it. We love all of the bands and all of you.

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When we spoke with Dethklok mastermind Brendon Small to put together the Rigged piece we published yesterday, Small gave us a little information on a new project he’s working on — a Brendon Small solo record. The existence of such a record has been known for some time — according to the omnipotent Wikipedia, anyway — but we got Brendon to tell us a little bit more about what the record has in store for us:

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Getting into the studio to record an album should be a pretty exciting time for any young band. However, this process is replete with numerous pitfalls, challenges, and — as demonstrated in the video above — options. The subject, Former Thieves, play hardcore in an angular and perpetually irate manner, leveraging hooks and shouts in relatively equal parts. Yet choosing which gear to record with can be an torturous choice — even if you do so in a tongue-in-cheek manner. But really, why are you wasting time watching me describe a video you can click on and watch yourself?

The studio sessions above produced The Language That We Speak, their full length debut for No Sleep Records that just dropped last week. Fans of groups like The Carrier or Defeater best not snooze (get it?) on this one, especially since Former Thieves are hitting the road with both of those artists (albeit at different times) in May and June. Check out the tour dates below the cut.

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Weed is an awesome so-called “drug”, but it’s NOT for everyone. And throughout certain periods of my life, it’s been that way for me too. Growing up it was fun and my friends and i smoked a whole lot (!) whilst jamming…but somewhere in my mid-twenties, it would/could make me paranoid and uncomfortable in my own skin, so I didn’t/wouldn’t partake as often.

I met Mike IX Williams, the legendary vocalist for EyeHateGod/Arson Anthem/Drip/Crawlspace/Outlaw Order and author, last year at Philip Anselmo’s hidden home somewhere deep in the woods of Louisiana. I’ve gotten to know the man more this year as we have spent some time together in Fort Worth and Austin while on the road with Arson Anthem. I asked Mike if he would like to share his thoughts with the MetalSucks readers. He eagerly and graciously complied. – CM

Okay, so you’ve been slaving away in the piss hot steaming garage, or alternately, an ice cold freezing cement basement tomb, writing and playing extreme music with various people of dubious degree, quality and background. The torn carpeted walls smell of stale booze, melted wax and illegal left handed cigarettes and the old bass player vomited behind his Peavy cabinet two months before you kicked him out and its still not cleaned up. The new bassist is a fat stinking bastard who probably has head lice but definitely has bad breath and an alcohol problem but comes in handy because he plays like a cross between Tom Araya and Geezer Butler.

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I’m probably the last guy around the MetalSucks Mansion that should be writing about pot.

Last time I smoked was over 20 years ago. I was riding around in a van with a couple of dudes from Deadhorse somewhere in Houston, Texas, having a great ol’ time. For some inexplicable reason though, I decided to give up the ganja then and there. There was no traumatic reason for doing so. I just knew I was done. Haven’t touched the stuff ever since.

So, instead of trying to opine about marijuana, I decided to turn to some of my metalhead friends in the business. I simply asked them to write down their thoughts on pot.

These are their stories:

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As some of you guys may or may not know, I am currently working with Philip H. Anselmo on his autobiography. In fact, the questions I get asked most often these days are, “How’s that book with Phil coming along?” or “When’s Phil’s book coming out?” or “What’s it like working with Phil?”

I can happily inform you that, though it is a slow process, Philip’s book is going to kick major fuckin’ ass!

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If you can’t figure out why you awoke this morning with a persistent boner (like me) or a tingly bottom (uh also like me), let me tell you it probably is related to Hydra Head’s announcement that tomorrow brings the premiere of a new Cave In jam! Welcome to Horny City. Population: you.

But there’s big fun today too! So that we have a use for our various states of arousal, MetalSucks is proud to unveil Hydra Head’s killer new free sampler of recent, unreleased, and upcoming jamz by the likes of Oxbow, Neurosis, Discordance Axis, and Clouds. This is rare and tasty stuff, like the hard-to-find Cave In cover of “N.I.B.” and an exclusive Austerity Program remix of a Pyramids jam. Get it here.

–ADF

I’ve been lucky enough to know Jason McMaster for nearly a quarter century. For those of you not in the know, McMaster was the seminal progressive thrash frontman for the legendary Austin, Texas band Watchtower. While respected worldwide, Watchtower was, nonetheless, waaaaayyyyyy before its time. Think Dream Theater, Symphony X, Between the Buried and Me, Obscura, et al, and you might start to get an inkling of what these precursory tech-metal masters were all about.

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Today marks the first anniversary of Peter Steele’s death and though we at MetalSucks have just dragged you to Bummer Town with our two-part Peter retrospective (read part I, part II), MS chum Mick Stingley of Rocksalt.Mx has big, green plans to turn our frown upside down. Yes, tonight at 10 PM EDT he unveils a lengthy unpublished 2005 interview with the always hilarious and merciless Type O Negative frontman. Treasure, right? Stingley, an ace music writer for Hollywood Reporter, Billboard, Metal Edge, and Terrorizer, gave me a peek at the sprawling Q&A; I can tell you it defines epic and hilarity. He’d phoned up Peter ostensibly to talk about Type O’s then-forthcoming Dead Again record, but unsurprisingly, the 12,000+ word interview stretches to accomodate subjects like joy and mortality and most points between. Read it as you crank Carnivore and Type O all day and night. Read it as you dash off angry letters to the Grammys and Revolver. Read it as you hail one of our greats, now elsewhere, always close by.

-ADF

Check out Mick Stingley’s Rocksalt.mx, the Vanity Fair of metal, for more interviews with Johnny Kelly of Type O Negative and Seventh Void, Ministry’s Al Jourgensen, Doro Pesch, Michael Monroe, and more.